Parents Anonymous, FOFC Branch

[JonInMiddleGA]

So the 16 y/o got a writeup in one of the local papers this week

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/s526x395/10377536_10203595044625650_5884504121742207016_n.jpg?oh=496e9360285e5b90b1fe671a631717ea&oe=553B35C5&__gda__=1426277502_e89648dc89a56d69bee12ae57f696277

An abridged version of the article (rest behind a paywall) is here (http://www.oconeeenterprise.com/news/article_07fddcee-8474-11e4-97f1-9bd631fc4acf.html)

[JonInMiddleGA]

"Be it known that William Loveless has this day been found worthy of the rank of Eagle Scout"

What a long, strange trip it's been. Proud of the kid, a true lesson in perseverance.

[tarcone]

Congrats. Proud moment.

[tarcone]

I will add mine. I forgot about this thread. But I will add my moment, even though it happened last Fall.

My Freshman daughter is on the Varsity Cross Country team. She placed 7th in conference. Kind of disappointing. Had a bad day. wasnt expecting her to win. But was thinking 3rd. But it was okay. The team won conference and she was all-conference.

Districts was a week later. Here is is where it gets crazy. A couple nights before districts, I had a dream about her running in districts. I told her about the dream the next morning. Now, you may think I had her winning districts. But thats not how the dream went. I dreamed she had to fight to get 13th place. Strange number to finish at. And the fact that she had to race at the end to get it.
The top 15 go to state. So why 13th? Strange.

Districts were upon us. Its a good course to watch the race. Lots of spots that arent to far apart to see them. When I saw her the first time, at about the one mile marker, she was 17th. I encouraged to get going.
Im not one to chase around the track, so I went up to the finish area and waited. Here they come. I start counting. 1,2,3........10, 11,12. Here comes my daught with 2 other girls with her. Its a race at the end. And what place? She took 13th. Got all district. But 13th, just like I dreamed about.

She got to go to state. And finished 104th.

I am really at a loss. But I have started paying more attention to my dreams.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Congrats. Proud moment.

Thanks, from 1st grade to 11th grade, it's a long journey to look back on.

I wish I could take any credit at all but this has been entirely him & my wife. It's an endurance test as much as anything I think, she spent a lot of time (bordering on absurd) making sure his waterfowl remained linear, especially down the stretch.

Interesting thing though, he's a bit numb after it becoming official but he commented how it felt like ... less. Less of an accomplishment, I guess you'd say, because he knows so many Eagles.

I pointed out the rapid 50-60 Likes my Facebook parental brag got as a way of trying to restore some sense of perspective. It IS a pretty big deal, but between the shock and the relief and the commonality of it in his experiences I'm not sure he fully appreciates that yet.

[Coffee Warlord]

Hey, I'm obviously not even close to this point yet, but the subject came up a couple weeks ago, and I was curious, for those of you with older kids.

When did you guys start leaving them home by themselves for short periods of time (dinners, etc)?

[tarcone]

We started breaking them early. Maybe when my oldest was 10, we would leave them for 10 minutes when we went to the gas station. I would say when she was 12 we started leaving them longer. But we trusted her and felt she was mature enough to to handle it. That's the big thing. Are they mature enough.

[Lathum]

I forgot how much fun having a two year old is.

yes, thats sarcasm.

[DanGarion]

I forgot how much fun having a two year old is.

yes, thats sarcasm.

Ours hit two on Tuesday...

[Lathum]

Ours hit two on Tuesday...

already?

Thats crazy

[stevew]

We started breaking them early. Maybe when my oldest was 10, we would leave them for 10 minutes when we went to the gas station. I would say when she was 12 we started leaving them longer. But we trusted her and felt she was mature enough to to handle it. That's the big thing. Are they mature enough.

This sounds about right with us as well.

It does look like IL has a law of age 14 though, which is crazy

[Coffee Warlord]

This sounds about right with us as well.

It does look like IL has a law of age 14 though, which is crazy

Really? I looked around not long ago, and I didn't see a specified age.

[JeeberD]

I forgot how much fun having a two year old is.

yes, thats sarcasm.

Three was the bad year with Bren...Rae has her moments right now, but we're not looking forward to 2016.

[PilotMan]

So my youngest son has finally found something that he really enjoys. He's the same one that I went to Raw with in the spring. He's gotten very into wrestling and started experimenting with stop motion photography over the summer. After watching some other videos on You Tube (who knew) he's decided to start his own channel. Here's his newest video. Keep in mind doesn't turn 12 until next month. I certainly couldn't do it. I don't have the patience to do it, but he is very excited.

If you like it, subscribe to his channel, like his vid, and give him some words of encouragement.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXsgDFnBpMxtveBcjEmudrA

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HO1O6nleTIg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Barkeep49]

Good stuff. Which app is he using? If he really gets into it getting a good app makes a HUGE difference in helping the quality be as good as what you're willing to invest the time in making it.

[PilotMan]

Its called Kamadori Stop Motion. I don't know anything else about it, he found it all on his own.

[tarcone]

Awesome. Very creative. Good for him.

[JeeberD]

First day of Kindergarten for my baby boy! :cry:

[Galaril]

For all the parents and also teachers of school age kids.My girlfriend posted this from a website and it is pretty good.:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ATTENTION ALL TEACHERS AND PARENTS

This is an article that needs to be repeated:
Every Friday afternoon Chase’s teacher asks her students to take out a piece of paper and write down the names of four children with whom they’d like to sit the following week. The children know that these requests may or may not be honored. She also asks the students to nominate one student whom they believe has been an exceptional classroom citizen that week. All ballots are privately submitted to her.

And every single Friday afternoon, after the students go home, Chase’s teacher takes out those slips of paper, places them in front of her and studies them. She looks for patterns.

Who is not getting requested by anyone else?
Who doesn’t even know who to request?
Who never gets noticed enough to be nominated?
Who had a million friends last week and none this week?

You see, Chase’s teacher is not looking for a new seating chart or “exceptional citizens.” Chase’s teacher is looking for lonely children. She’s looking for children who are struggling to connect with other children. She’s identifying the little ones who are falling through the cracks of the class’s social life. She is discovering whose gifts are going unnoticed by their peers. And she’s pinning down- right away- who’s being bullied and who is doing the bullying.

As a teacher, parent, and lover of all children – I think that this is the most brilliant Love Ninja strategy I have ever encountered. It’s like taking an X-ray of a classroom to see beneath the surface of things and into the hearts of students. It is like mining for gold – the gold being those little ones who need a little help – who need adults to step in and TEACH them how to make friends, how to ask others to play, how to join a group, or how to share their gifts with others. And it’s a bully deterrent because every teacher knows that bullying usually happens outside of her eyeshot – and that often kids being bullied are too intimidated to share. But as she said – the truth comes out on those safe, private, little sheets of paper.

As Chase’s teacher explained this simple, ingenious idea – I stared at her with my mouth hanging open. “How long have you been using this system?” I said.
Ever since Columbine, she said. Every single Friday afternoon since Columbine.

Good Lord.

This brilliant woman watched Columbine knowing that ALL VIOLENCE BEGINS WITH DISCONNECTION. All outward violence begins as inner loneliness. She watched that tragedy KNOWING that children who aren’t being noticed will eventually resort to being noticed by any means necessary.

And so she decided to start fighting violence early and often, and with the world within her reach. What Chase’s teacher is doing when she sits in her empty classroom studying those lists written with shaky 11 year old hands - is SAVING LIVES. I am convinced of it. She is saving lives.

And what this mathematician has learned while using this system is something she really already knew: that everything – even love, even belonging – has a pattern to it. And she finds those patterns through those lists – she breaks the codes of disconnection. And then she gets lonely kids the help they need. It’s math to her. It’s MATH.

All is love- even math. Amazing.

Chase’s teacher retires this year – after decades of saving lives. What a way to spend a life: looking for patterns of love and loneliness. Stepping in, every single day- and altering the trajectory of our world.

TEACH ON, WARRIORS. You are the first responders, the front line, the disconnection detectives, and the best and ONLY hope we’ve got for a better world. What you do in those classrooms when no one is watching- it’s our best hope. http://momastery.com/blog/2014/01/30/share-schools/

[JonInMiddleGA]

I am not yet authorized to mention details publicly (and Lord knows there are still details details details to attend to) but ...

I've been a parent for just shy of 18 years now, I don't think I've ever had a more joyous moment than the one a little while ago. There is really NOTHING that compares to seeing (or hearing) your child get what their heart most desires, and what they've worked insanely hard to achieve.

If you've been paying attention you might know what sort of email could have brought this very grumpy old man to some very happy tears.

A more formal detailed announcement will be forthcoming (as soon as I'm given permission)

[JonInMiddleGA]

I have now finagled permission to share :)

I've been a parent for just shy of 18 years now, not sure I've had a better single moment in time than tonight. I'll go to my grave remembering the sound of Will's reaction from two floors away to an email that read in part "We are pleased to offer you admission to the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College at the University of Mississippi"

It is not a done deal, his final decision doesn't have to be made for a bit yet but of all the various acceptances that have been rolling in over the past few weeks, that was the one he wanted most. Naturally, it was among the last to be received ('cause that's how life works).

There's really not anything that I've enjoyed more than seeing my child get not only what his heart desired but even moreso what he's worked so very hard and so very long to achieve. To know that, wherever he ends up, whatever he chooses will be a choice that he makes and that's he's earned that right ... I lack the words.

Not much better that a parent can be able to say than that they are not only proud of what their child does but of who they are.

[digamma]

Congrats, Jon and Will.

[Umbrella]

My wife and I are now empty nesters, so when I was asked to relocate, we decided to accept. During the packing process, my wife was going through some papers in my old desk, when she stopped and started tearing up. I asked what was going on, and she handed me a paper my oldest daughter wrote. It didn't have a date on it, but based on her writing, I'm guessing she was in fifth or sixth grade. It was called "My dad is the best dad ever!"

I don't know if that's true or not, but it was really interesting reading it. It gave a real good glimpse into what kids think make good parents. I honestly don't remember that paper, but obviously I thought enough of it to save it for ~15 years.

Fast forward a couple of days, and then I find out my youngest daughter is pregnant. So now I'm going to be a grandfather. It's funny, because I always though this would be a possibility for the other kids, but she has always been the responsible one. I'm simultaneously excited and concerned.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I now have permission to share this news, so ... Will has accepted an invitation to attend the honors college at the University of Mississippi starting next fall.

They've weaved their way from contender to frontrunner to final answer, to a question that he started asking himself seriously some seven years ago. I privately predicted Ole Miss several years ago, outside of his earshot, saying that if he ever visited that'd be his choice. While it's nice to be right, the reason I'm happy with the decision is that it's HIS decision. He's done his due diligence, he's set priorities, he's evaluated the options, he's done the work. Visits, meetings, interviews, the whole nine yards, at a variety of schools from the Mississippi River to nigh on the Atlantic Ocean.

While other schools remained in the running for quite a while, I knew things were all but settled when, over dinner in Oxford, he looked at us and said "I can't explain it but this just feels like ... home". And as far as I'm concerned, that's how it should be, I couldn't have asked him to make any other decision.

‪#‎HottyToddy‬

[Wolfpack]

I now have permission to share this news, so ... Will has accepted an invitation to attend the honors college at the University of Mississippi starting next fall.

They've weaved their way from contender to frontrunner to final answer, to a question that he started asking himself seriously some seven years ago. I privately predicted Ole Miss several years ago, outside of his earshot, saying that if he ever visited that'd be his choice. While it's nice to be right, the reason I'm happy with the decision is that it's HIS decision. He's done his due diligence, he's set priorities, he's evaluated the options, he's done the work. Visits, meetings, interviews, the whole nine yards, at a variety of schools from the Mississippi River to nigh on the Atlantic Ocean.

While other schools remained in the running for quite a while, I knew things were all but settled when, over dinner in Oxford, he looked at us and said "I can't explain it but this just feels like ... home". And as far as I'm concerned, that's how it should be, I couldn't have asked him to make any other decision.

‪#‎HottyToddy‬

Awesome. Congrats. :) You going to be visiting Oxford often? It's a bit far for him to come home on weekends, I'm sure.

I was pretty sure I'd end up at State when I was younger which was about a half hour from home, but distance wasn't really a consideration for me, just wanted a solid comp sci program and State had that. Only other school I even toyed with applying for was Georgia Tech, but I was pretty sure I had the grades and the legacy needed to get into State without much trouble, so that was it.

[PilotMan]

My 14 yr old came was talking with me and admitted that he has a crush on one of his teachers. Knowing which one it is, I'd say he has good taste.

This was just a little while after he went on his first couple outings with a girl. The cat may be out of the bag on this whole girl thing for him now.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Awesome. Congrats. :) You going to be visiting Oxford often? It's a bit far for him to come home on weekends, I'm sure.

Yeah, with the distance & all I suspect we might see him once or twice during the first semester before Christmas at most. And that's in part due to grandparents on both sides insisting on seeing Oxford sometime sooner than later (tho that could happen over the summer)

One quirky advantage is that his relatively small HS (basically 100ish in each senior class) will have {counts} I think it's 5 or 6 alums there next fall. They mostly get along pretty well so they might get back here a little more often since they can split up driving duties when they come back.

He's actually driving over there tomorrow -- first time doing that solo. Pre-rush parties for fraternities are getting into gear & so he'll actually be there (instead of, you know, HERE) for his 18th birthday on Saturday.

Not that such a scenario could make a parent feel REALLY old or anything.

And, lest I sound like the world's worst parent or something ... once he arrives tomorrow night he's under the wing of one of those local alums I mentioned. He's got his back (I believe) and should keep things from getting too out of hand.

[CU Tiger]

This coming Saturday I am taking my son to a football camp. That part in and of itself isnt highly unusual, he loves football and he has been to several camps. This is a specialized camp just for O-Linemen. We knew this "camp" was pretty exclusive as its ran by 2 NFL OL coaches, 1 current 1 semi-retired.

There are 40 kids who are invited from the region and you cant attend without an invite. The cool and apprehensive part is this. My son will be the only Freshman in attendance. This is a full-contact, full-pad 12 hour day With (3) 2 hour "contact sessions" and the remainder filled up with classroom, film, exercise instruction and break/food times. We both just found out tonight that he is the only Fr.

For literally the first time in his life, I've seen him get nervous.

I'd lie if I said I wasnt a touch as well. We know there are 6 kids there who are rising Sr and have accepted D1 offers. Physical size isnt an issue. He can hold his own there, he is a big kid. Plus he has some experience as he played and started Varsity ball as a Fr last year. But as a parent sending a 15 year old to compete not just against 17-19 year olds, but ELITE 17-19 year olds well I have a touch of trepidation. Seeing him be a little nervous SHOCKED me.

Its 1:30 AM and I cant sleep thinking about it.

The twilight zone part of this?

Saturday is tax day. April 16th. 23 years ago to the day 4/16/93 I was a Fr in high school and in a weightlifting class on a Friday morning I tore my ACL...the injury that would eventually end whatever hopes of a football career I had. (When I reinjured/re-tore the ligament 5 years later)

[JonInMiddleGA]

For literally the first time in his life, I've seen him get nervous.

Camps are learning experiences, perhaps even moreso as a freshman in that situation.

He's there for a reason, he's one of that 40, not #63 or #127. I hope he remembers that no matter what the day brings.

Here's to him sucking every bit of good out of it he can get.

[CU Tiger]

Camps are learning experiences, perhaps even moreso as a freshman in that situation.

He's there for a reason, he's one of that 40, not #63 or #127. I hope he remembers that no matter what the day brings.

Here's to him sucking every bit of good out of it he can get.


Thanks man. That's good perspective I needed. Now lets just hope he doesn't get murdered out there :D

Oh and here is a pic from this past weekend, just because...

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn35/rtowery/IMG_3439_zpsn2aiq2bu.jpg (http://s300.photobucket.com/user/rtowery/media/IMG_3439_zpsn2aiq2bu.jpg.html)

[CU Tiger]

Well he survived and even thrived in a few scenarios.
It really gave him a huge confidence boost.

He was beaten and soundly by a couple guys, but he also held his own against those same guys in others drills.

Man he was on cloud nine when it was over beaming ear to ear.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Well he survived and even thrived in a few scenarios. It really gave him a huge confidence boost. He was beaten and soundly by a couple guys, but he also held his own against those same guys in others drills. Man he was on cloud nine when it was over beaming ear to ear.

And mine got home just before 9pm, having survived a two-day frat rush weekend ... that included him turning 18 on Saturday.

[JonInMiddleGA]

In addition to being "college t-shirt day" (a major milestone event at our school each year) it's also the first look at the traditional Senior Boards. His take, after pondering how many of those boards he's seen en route to being on one of his own was "I always looked at them and thought 'Well, they're pretty much of here' "

Yeah, he is.

https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13139276_10206680350516369_5635794275676744251_n.jpg?oh=2d85a8ec9823086a74323305e965bdc9&oe=57E3D454

[tarcone]

My daughter, Cori's basketball adventure continues.
We got her on an AAU team in the Adidas circuit.
A local tourney has a web site that evaluates players and posts results on their site for colleges. Took her to that. Got some good feedback. Positive feedback in the skills area. But she needs to work on her athleticism. Which I knew.

Then, the other day, Truman St. University sent her an invite to their elite camp. That level is about right for her. Maybe a little high. It is a division 2 school.
Cori is going into 9th grade. She is 6'0" tall. So with a good skill set, she will have an opportunity to play at the next level.

I wont lie, this is something I want. Not just for her, but for me too. Yes, I am living my dream through her. :)

And Truman State is a great University.

[JonInMiddleGA]

And Truman State is a great University.

And interest often begets interest, other schools get concerned they might be missing somebody. So that's an added benefit.

[tarcone]

Funny thing. I emailed my family about it in our daily emails. Seems my Grandpa went to Truman St. (previously known as Northeast Missouri State) almost 100 years ago.

That is a cool thing.

[JonInMiddleGA]

That is a cool thing.

Yep.

[CU Tiger]

Ive posted frequently about my son and his endeavors. Lost in that I have a younger daughter, 12, who is tied with him for worlds greatest kid - thoughI realize several of you would disagree.

She is the brain between the two. I mean really smart, top 5 in her class. and it comes easy.

But she WANTS to be an athlete. Really wants it. She tries so hard with mixed results. Has played softball and basketball the last few years with mixed results. (Basketball as BAAAAD and Softball she is ...starter level bottom 3rd of the lineup for travel ball team (we dont have rec ball so this isnt an elite level travel team.))

Well she decided to try out for Volleyball now that she is in the 7th grade. 45 kids tried out for 12 spots. She just found out she made the team! The only 7th grader they kept...she is so stoked. Its mighty dusty in my office this afternoon...not sure whats up with that.

Sorry had to share with someone.

[Coffee Warlord]

And on the flipside of all these crazy kids starting college...my oldest starts Kindergarten on Tuesday. Hoo boy.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Sorry had to share with someone.

It's woot-tastic :)

[Kodos]

That's great, CU!

My 7-year-old girl was just asked to join a swim team by her swim instructor at the Y. She's really good at the backstroke. :)

[tarcone]

Congrats CU.

And Coffee, it is just beginning. Time really starts flying by. Grab hold and enjoy it.

I have 2 in HS now. Junior and a Freshman. Sigh.

[AnalBumCover]

This is all great stuff! Congrats on all the successes!

Like CW's, my little girl started Kindergarten this week. She would not let go of our leg, and needed a crowbar to pry her off. But teacher told us afterwards that once we were gone, she did great.

[finkenst]

This is all great stuff! Congrats on all the successes!

Like CW's, my little girl started Kindergarten this week. She would not let go of our leg, and needed a crowbar to pry her off. But teacher told us afterwards that once we were gone, she did great.

Our son just started kindergarten. He couldn't wait to go into school and away from us. The parents on the other hand were more teary than the kids.

[PilotMan]

I am so fucking tired right now. Last week my youngest came home sick with a fever Monday last week. Didn't seem so bad at first. His fever spiked the next day and then came the vomiting. Three days later he finally went to the Dr to be diagnosed with Pneumonia. He started antibiotics and the Dr says if he's not back in school on Monday come back and see me. Well, nothing changed. All weekend was fever and vomiting and coughing. New antibiotics, two of them, and perhaps school by Thursday.

I came home from my last trip early because I wasn't feeling well and didn't want to be sick out of the country, luckily that didn't sick around.

My wife is freaking out because we she is exhausted from taking care of him, is trapped in the house, and is worried his seizures will start back up again because he was having a hard time keeping anything down. She's also upset because we haven't been able to do our special Christmas photos and get our cards out. We haven't been able to do the Zoo Festival of Lights or any other Christmas activity while I've been home. We're on a tight time schedule with my job and all. We booked a weekend family trip to Santa Claus Indiana the week before Christmas, even though our kids are pretty old for all that stuff, but we couldn't afford to do it when they were smaller and we are down to the last few years of family Christmases. So she's not dealing well with that either.

My middle son, who is an insane overachiever, will do hours of homework to keep his grades up in his advanced courses. Has multiple after school activities each week, makes himself fake being well when he's sick to avoid losing perfect attendance, wants to go to a residential high school at Western Kentucky after his Sophomore year and knows that it's very competitive and he can't afford to fall behind, didn't feel well yesterday. He stayed up until nearly 1130 trying to finish his homework, before I made him go to bed. He gets up at 545a. He got up to get ready this morning, then fell asleep on the couch in 2 minutes waiting for our time to go to school. Says he's feeling worse and I told him to go back to bed and stay home and he didn't argue. That NEVER happens.

So now I've got 2 sick kids, a stressed out wife, a holiday season that waits for no man, oh, and my oldest has Aspbergers. He's the low needs one right now.

I'm tired.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Just to illustrate how long parenting stress will continue, I'll share this little story.

Guess who's college Honors student -- who had only missed one class his entire first semester -- managed to sleep through his first final of the week?
Yep, and I don't mean by a little bit. I mean slept through it as in woke up after it was over.

So after his panic stricken phone call ("the only thing I can compare the feeling to was my car accident") and our advice to throw himself on the mercy of the court, we spend an hour worrying.

Worrying about the impact on his GPA ... which could get him kicked out of not only the Honors program but also wipe out most of his scholarships. About having an oversleep -- which, you have to admit, happens to most of us at some point in our lives -- cost him pretty much everything he's worked the majority of his life for. About the financial ramifications. About pretty much everything.

An hour later, and a terrified meeting with an understanding professor (who even had advice for how he should handle things the next time he sleeps through an exam) ... re-take is scheduled for later today, no grade penalty attached.

But you wanna talk about a fun 60-90 minutes? Yeah.

[Coffee Warlord]

So what's the market value for teeth these days? My boy lost his first tooth this morning.

[PilotMan]

Couple for the first, and 1 for the others is what we did, but we were the absolute shittiest Tooth Faries ever.

[tarcone]

We always gave $1.

Then we forgot one night. We told our daughter the tooth fairy must have been real busy.

We put $5 in the next night. I think more to ease our guilt.

[PilotMan]

Couple for the first, and 1 for the others is what we did, but we were the absolute shittiest Tooth Faries ever.

My wife was. It's all on her. I was solid.

[cuervo72]

I was searching for the Higher Ed thread, found this, figured it would probably be a better place to share.

So, the boy took the PSAT in the fall. Scored a 1500 (of 1520). Solid National Merit territory. Took the real deal in January, got his score back today.

1570.

Damn, son.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Nice work, good on him cuervo.

[cuervo72]

Thanks. I mean, a lot of this comes easy for him -- he never did take any prep courses -- but he's worked his ass off too (he had some all-nighters as a soph, but landed a 5 on the AP World test for his efforts).

He's what my dad had in mind when stressing to me to "apply yourself."

[tarcone]

District basketball tonight. My daughter played 3 of the 4 quarters. Scored her first basket as a varsity player.
She ended up with 4 points, 3 rebounds. 2 blocks and a steal. Her team won 68-33 and plays in the district final game Friday.
Nice night for a freshman.

Im a proud Dad.

[tarcone]

Picture of my daughter in her last varsity game of the season. We lost in OT in the district final. She disrupts the lay up and the girl missed badly.

http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/27/e273af42-0083-11e7-9b3d-5f9e7df5ddf9/58ba290a01055.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C749

[Coffee Warlord]

Three year old hit the trifecta.

Both ears infected + strep.

[tarcone]

Daughter went to an offensive post camp today. Steve Stipanovich was running it. You may remember he played for Missouri, then had a nice career in the NBA.
He told my daughters AAU coach that my daughter was a gifted basketball player. He told me he was impressed with her after the camp.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Already knew the grades but the lists, etc. have now posted so

Year one of college for Will is complete:
Fall semester: Dean's List
Spring semester: Chancellor's List

missed a 4.0 in the second semester by one class, by 8 points out of 500 possible, that amount would have rounded him up. Pretty damned close, I ain't gonna complain.

[CU Tiger]

Ive posted frequently about my son and his endeavors. Lost in that I have a younger daughter, 12, who is tied with him for worlds greatest kid - thoughI realize several of you would disagree.

She is the brain between the two. I mean really smart, top 5 in her class. and it comes easy.

But she WANTS to be an athlete. Really wants it. She tries so hard with mixed results. Has played softball and basketball the last few years with mixed results. (Basketball as BAAAAD and Softball she is ...starter level bottom 3rd of the lineup for travel ball team (we dont have rec ball so this isnt an elite level travel team.))

Well she decided to try out for Volleyball now that she is in the 7th grade. 45 kids tried out for 12 spots. She just found out she made the team! The only 7th grader they kept...she is so stoked. Its mighty dusty in my office this afternoon...not sure whats up with that.

Sorry had to share with someone.

Had to look this thread up and bump it with an update.
My daughter played out the 7th grade year on volleyball primarily as a "middle hitter"... with all the other front liners they were allowed to serve then rotate out.

Our middle school coach insists on over hand serving only, despite numerous opponents underhand serving. Well my daughter just couldnt get the over hand down. Or more accurate she couldnt get it up. Every one in the net. But she kept working and played club volleyball this spring. She insisted on overhand serving even though her success rate was sub 50%.

Wednesday night was the first game of the middle school season against our cross town rival, btw she made the team again - which went from a stress ball last year to a given this year- funny how that works. Coach told her before the game I'm letting you serve first rotation and we will see how you do from there. First game her serve comes up she gets it over but its returned, we dont save and she is broken. Next rotation she gets 2 serve points then faults into the net. They ultimately lose the first game 25-17. Second game is a nail biter. Her first serve rotation they sub for her and the other girl runs three points off. Mom and I realize she probably wont be serving anymore today, and we start to discuss and prepare for consoling her a bit as we know she will be disappointed. Second serve rotation, another sub.

Second game trailing 21-22 her 3rd serve rotation comes up.... coach doesnt sub. Cool Thanks, Coach! Kylie proceeds to rip off 4 points including back to back aces to win the game! The entire team mobbed her and tackled her to the floor it was a uber cool parent moment...even if a bit blurry to see.

Sadly the story book ended with a 15-10 tie breaker loss.

[tarcone]

My sophomore daughter has earned a starting position on her HS varsity team. She is 6'1" tall and has been playing AAU.

Her team starts 4 juniors and her. The team has been given little chance to do much this season. We graduated 4 seniors that accounted for 95% of all our stats last year. They finished 23-5.

Well, tonight we won the Lutheran South Tournament. 63-60 in OT. One of our guards threw up an off balance, contested 3 at the end of tegulation to send it to OT.

My daughter made 3 of 4 FTs in OT. SHe finished with 8 points, 6 rebounds and 4 blocked shots.

Very exciting.

She is listed in the area leaders in rebounds and blocked shots in the St Louis Post Dispatch.

Very proud of her start to here season.

[Coffee Warlord]

Parent fail.

The tooth fairy didn't come last night. Whoops.

[corbes]

Been there.

7YO sitting at the breakfast table. She suddenly looks up. "I forgot to look under my pillow!" She starts to get up from the table.

"WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" says the dad cooking breakfast, who then invents completely on-the-spot non-sensical reason why he needs to go upstairs and check on "something" even though the stovetop is sizzling...

[corbes]

Dola, to whomever came up with the tooth fairy: it's kind of a creepy concept.

[corbes]

Double dola: I mean, what am I supposed to say when my kid asks what she does with them all?

[Coffee Warlord]

Hell, it's no worse than Santa....the old fat man who keeps lists of children and watches them sleep.

[tarcone]

Parent fail.

The tooth fairy didn't come last night. Whoops.

Yeah, we did that one.

Left a note the next night and $5. Normally, the tooth fairy left a dollar.

[Coffee Warlord]

Yep, we did the exact same. He actually lost both his front teeth on the same day. One buck normal, up to five bucks.

10 bucks and a nice note from the tooth fairy. Good haul for the lad.

[tarcone]

Daughter was honored as her High Schools Athlete of the week.

Proud moment.

[tarcone]

And the good stuff keeps coming for my youngest daughter.

She earned Academic All-State for Cross Country.

A week after being named the athlete of the week for basketball. See above. :)

[AnalBumCover]

Parent fail.

The tooth fairy didn't come last night. Whoops.

Parent Fail: Level 2

Daughter's old letter to the tooth fairy fell to the ground from atop our dresser, and she found it.

Immediately asked me, "Are you the tooth fairy?"

D'oh!

[Coffee Warlord]

Alright guys, I've reached that stage of parenthood.

Who's got swingset / playground set recommendations? For somewhat older kids (7 and 4, and they're both very tall for 7 and 4).

[Lathum]

My youngest, my little girl, starts kindergarten today. I'm not crying, its just allergies.

[Lathum]

Alright guys, I've reached that stage of parenthood.

Who's got swingset / playground set recommendations? For somewhat older kids (7 and 4, and they're both very tall for 7 and 4).

I don't have a specific recommendation, but whatever you do spend the money to have them assemble it. 3 of us, 2 who worked in construction, took almost 10 hours to put ours together.

[PilotMan]

My kids are old now, and parenting just changes as they get older. Things are so much more complicated for them. You have to relate to them as adults and know that their problems are big problems now. They are so close to going out to make their own way in the world and it's completely terrifying.

My middle son is in therapy right now because he's a high achieving perfectionist (wonder where he gets that from....hmmm) and is going through the exact same thing that I went through when I was in college. He is finding out that the path that he's been working toward for 4 years isn't going to happen. He's finding that there is an academic wall that he can't survive, and that his math skills, while good, aren't cut out for the high level stuff he hoped. He didn't get accepted to the residential high school, but his best friend, that he told to apply, did.

He's had some bad thoughts, and he's battle a lot of depressive feelings since early this year. I think we finally might be through the worst of the down cycle. I knew school starting again, would be a big trigger, and it was. I hope, hope hope, that he's coming out the other side, with a new outlook and new goals to strive for.

My wife feels completely lost. She was awesome when they were little, but the amount of brain power and stress that comes with parenting older kids puts her out of her depth most of the time. We only have a couple years left until they are gone and I dread it. I am super attached to them, and as much as I know they have to leave, it breaks my heart thinking about them going. The wife and I are a great team though and we are preparing for that time. She knows she'll need to be the rock, while I'm reduced to tears.

[Coffee Warlord]

I don't have a specific recommendation, but whatever you do spend the money to have them assemble it. 3 of us, 2 who worked in construction, took almost 10 hours to put ours together.

Wanna fly out to the Springs and put whatever I get together? :)

[Lathum]

Wanna fly out to the Springs and put whatever I get together? :)

There is no amount of money that would make me do that

[Coffee Warlord]

There is no amount of money that would make me do that

Perfect, 'cause I was offering you no money!

[JAG]

I don't have a specific recommendation, but whatever you do spend the money to have them assemble it. 3 of us, 2 who worked in construction, took almost 10 hours to put ours together.

Almost the exact same story with my neighbor and he is also in construction.

[Coffee Warlord]

Parental right of passage complete. Need to re-seat the anchors a bit tomorrow, and see if it can't be leveled any more (the yard is slightly angled, so not a ton I can do there).

[CU Tiger]

Leveling can actually be pretty easy and discreet.
Scrape the mulch back. Place the legs on the left in the picture onto a couple pieces of 2x10 cut to maybe 12-15" lengths (maybe stack two high if needed to get level height. If so run a couple screws through the board to keep them from shifting)

Then cover well with the mulch and use it to blend away the hump.


Just did this exact thing for my 4 year old twin nieces.

[JonInMiddleGA]

That Sbux cup is the most critical tool in this process I'd think

[tarcone]

Putting those things together is a pain. I did it with my FIL and I suck at that type of thing.
Your kids look like they are enjoying it already. Good stuff.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Let me start with "he's fine, car is fine, all is fine". HOWEVER .... You wanna know how strong genetics can be?

Kid calls at 2something this morning asking about his car insurance info since he's been in a minor fender bender. Now these things happen, nothing especially notable about that.

Then genetics kick in ... who else but my kid gets backed into by a cop?

Sorry son, somehow I figure this is my fault.

[miami_fan]

18 months ago, my then 9 year old son decided that he wanted to try to play competitive baseball. It was kind of surprising as the interest came out of the blue. We went to several Rays games over the previous three years but he never showed any interest in playing. So I signed him up for the fall instructional league and before his first practice, I took him to the local batting cages. Since he writes with his right hand, I had try hitting right handed. He took 20 swings from the right side against the beginner pitching machine and missed all of them. When he played soccer and basketball, he was more left side dominant so I had him try from the left side. He did a little better. He hit one out of twenty. He said "Dad, I don't know if I can't hit the ball." He then started his first fall season with a coach that ... well let's just say he was not a nice man and now has the arrest documents to prove it. Things got better when he moved to a different team for the remainder of the fall season and his first year in spring ball went okay. All the while my son tolerated practicing with his old man with the arthritic elbow. I was throwing 1 out of every three pitches into the ground in the cage and striking out when I tried to hit balls to him :banghead:

Entering his second season of spring ball, I asked him what his goals for the season were. He said he wanted to learn how to pitch and he wanted to make the all star team.

Well he played mostly first base (his best position) and the corner outfield positions. He hit over .400 for the season He did get to start a game (first inning 1,2,3, second inning not so much). He came in as a reliever a couple of times with similar results. His coach chose him to start an elimination game in the end of year tournament. He tossed 4 no hit innings before being subbed out due to a high pitch count.

Today he was selected to his league's All Star team. I can confidently say he got none of his baseball skills from me:D

[JonInMiddleGA]

8 years ago this week I took Will to his first bar/club show.
(Black Stone Cherry / Pop Evil / Kyng / Lansdowne)

As I'm typing this, he's standing in a packed out 160 year old Ulster Hall in Belfast ... to see Black Stone Cherry.

I mostly had to stay outta the way & not screw him up as far as parenting goes but, by God, I did the music thing RIGHT.

edit to add: And yes, he's familiar with the opening act (Kris Barras) too, been on our playlists for 2+ years despite zero U.S. presence.

[tarcone]

My daughter just found out she got into Missouri S and T. She wants to be an engineer and this is one of the nest engineering schools in the nation.
Early admission for her.

She is so excited as we are for her.

[JonInMiddleGA]

My daughter just found out she got into Missouri S and T. She wants to be an engineer and this is one of the nest engineering schools in the nation.
Early admission for her.

She is so excited as we are for her.

Congrats all around. Few greater sighs of relief I can recall than the point where that decision is made & done & settled.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Give or take, about eight hours from now I'll wave at the kid as he heads back to school to start his senior year.

You'd think that after three years of this stuff it'd get easier. I can't say that it has. I know better what to expect from it than I did the first time, I have some more coping skills for it than I started with .. but it still completely fucking sucks.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Give or take, about eight hours from now I'll wave at the kid as he heads back to school to start his senior year.

You'd think that after three years of this stuff it'd get easier. I can't say that it has. I know better what to expect from it than I did the first time, I have some more coping skills for it than I started with .. but it still completely fucking sucks.

I'll tell you something though ... I'd sure rather think it sucks and hate seeing him leave than to be glad to see him go.

[Coffee Warlord]

First time in his school history my boy's getting a note sent home from the teacher (3rd grader). Not a fun feeling.

[Coffee Warlord]

I've never heard of the Cogat tests until now, but my son scored very high on them.

[tarcone]

Daughter ran her last XC meet. And the last we HAVE to go to. Sad day around our house as a lot of lasts are coming up.

[tarcone]

Daughter was named to the All Tournament team this week.
3 games
1st game she had 19 points, 15 rebounds and 4 blocks
2nd game she had 13 points, 12 rebounds and 2 blocks
3rd game she had 17 points, 14 rebounds and 4 blocks. She was 15-18 from the free throw line in this game.

Proud moment for us.

[tarcone]

Tomorrow is probably the end of my daughters basketball career. District tourney game at 4:30. Team has been playing terribly lately. My daughter is the focal point of every teams defense. She sees double teams and triple tea,s and box and 1s.

No one is stepping up and carrying the load. Our offense is stagnant.

This is the end. I am literally crying about this. I am very emotional. I knew she would be a good BB player. Even in her early days. I spent so much time and effort in helping her become the best player possible. And she has averaged a double-double as a senior.

I also have invested much time in her as a scholar and she is going to one of the best engineering school sin the country to study engineering.

But god damn it. I love sports. MY dream was to go to a college stadium and watch my kid play. That did not materialize. That is okay. I have come to terms with that.

But I am really sad that this is the last time I will see my daughter play basketball. EVER.

Im in tears as I write this. I really need a release. Maybe this is it.

It has been a journey of about 12 years of me coaching her and directing her career and finding her teams and going to practices an hour away and tourneys 8 hours away and etc. stc.

I love watching her play. My all time favorite past time. And now its over.

Such a hard time.

[PilotMan]

First (biological) born kid turned 18 today.



Quite a milestone.


---




tarcone, I feel you man. We pour so much into these kids and we cheer, and teach, and love and they grow up and time kicks our asses.

[JonInMiddleGA]

And after 4 years of steady work, Will successfully defends his Honors Thesis.

He's my kid, so is it really any surprise that it was a 2-1 split decision following a 45 minutes knockdown drag out fight?

At the end of the day, it means an endorsement on his diploma and a medal that'll eventually end up in a drawer somewhere I'm sure ... but four years of work -- and good, thorough work at that -- on a single project warrants a bit of celebration. 4 years, at his age, that's basically 20% of his lifetime.

(Now if admin will process one more piece of paperwork so he can actually, you know, GRADUATE ... that'd be great)